After the meal, you all got up from the table, with Rachel being the first to speak up.

“‘Kay, so now that that's outta the way, what do we do now? Where's the place we're going to stay?” she asked Camilla.

Camilla, with a smile still on her face, replies, "Oh, I have just the perfect place in mind. You guys are in luck, 'cause I happen to know someone who owns the nicest hotel on the island, and he agreed to give us an amazing deal for our stay here."

Camilla begins leading you and the others through the crowded streets of Mahalo City, her steps light and carefree.

You notice a young boy staring at you, his eyes wide with fascination. He tugs on his mother's shirt and points at you, whispered words of "Look, Mom! That person's skin is so dark and shiny!"

The mother turns to look at you as well, her eyes narrowing slightly before she quickly shushes her son and leads him away.

As you continue walking, a group of prissy girls your age pass by. They're chattering amongst themselves, but you catch a snippet of their conversation, something about how you're the “freak” of the group.

One of the girls sneers openly at you, her eyes flickering over your skin, before she mutters something to her friends and they all snicker and laugh loudly. They were glancing over their shoulders at you, then your companions, then back at you. You catch a few whispered words like "exotic" and "strange" as the girls walk away, glancing back at your group and giggling to themselves.

The whispered comments and stares don't go unnoticed by the rest of the group. Rachel scowls, looking ready to pounce at any moment, but Camilla's casual attitude seems to help keep everyone calm for now.

"Ugh, are people really this rude here, or is it just us?" Noelle mutters under her breath.

Camilla laughs lightheartedly. "Don't worry, it's not just you. Some people in this town can be a bit...stuck-up, I guess. But we're gonna have a great time here, trust me!”

Rachel scoffs. "Yeah, great time dealing with judgmental jerks.”

Camilla tries to keep things light. "Hey, I know they can be annoying, but you gotta roll with the punches, ya know? Let's just focus on having fun and not let a few rude people ruin our trip!”

"Easy for you to say, you're not the one they're giving the looks and whispers to." Rachel grumbles under her breath.

Camilla stops walking and turns to face Rachel. "Look, I get it, it's not fair the way some people here are treating us. But you can't control how others act, y'know? The more we let it get under our skin, the worse time we're going to have.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Rachel crosses her arms and huffs. "Whatever."

Camilla rolls her eyes. "Oh, lighten up, will you? We're supposed to be here for a good time, remember? Let's just enjoy ourselves and ignore the haters.”

“...’Kay fine, but if a bitch’s head ends up rolling across the street, don't look at me.”

As you round a corner, a grand hotel comes into view. Its elegant architecture is a sharp contrast compared to the rest of the surrounding buildings in the city. Camilla grins.

"Here we are, The Royal Palm. Trust me, this place has everything we could need for a comfortable stay.”

The group enters the hotel's grand lobby, its high ceilings making them look small in comparison. The interior is adorned with elegant, tropical decor, giving off a modern yet cozy feel. The receptionist, an old woman with a warm smile, greets them.

"Aloha and welcome to The Royal Palm! How may I assist you all today?”

Camilla strides up to the receptionist, her cheerful demeanor on full display. "Ah, good afternoon! I'm here with my friends. We have a reservation under Camilla Silva.”

The receptionist checks her computer, then looks up with a smile. "Ah, yes, of course. Your group is in room 229, our best suite. I'll just need you to sign these forms and we can get you all settled in." She hands over some paperwork to Camilla.

Camilla quickly signs the forms and hands them back, receiving the key to the suite in return. Her cheerful demeanor hadn't diminished in the slightest.

"Thank you so much! Can you point us to our room?”

The receptionist nodded. "Certainly, your room is located on the second floor. Take the elevator on the left, and it'll be the last door on the right. Enjoy your stay!”

Camilla leads the way to the elevators, pressing the call button. As the elevator doors open, the group steps inside. Rachel glances at the brass panel displaying the buttons, each one marked with its corresponding floor.

"Room 229, huh? Sounds pretty fancy." she mutters.

"Yep!" Camilla responds cheerfully as she hits the button for the second floor. "The owner gave us a great deal. We're getting the whole suite to ourselves for just a couple of hundred bucks a night! Pretty awesome, isn't it?”

"That IS a good deal." Rachel admits, a hint of approval in her voice. "But this place looks like it'd normally be expensive. You sure the owner isn't trying to pull one over on us or something?”

Camilla shrugs as the elevator doors slide open. "Maybe, but I doubt it. The hotel's been here for years, and it's got a reputation for being one of the best in the city. I'm sure the owner's just being generous, maybe he owes someone a favor or something.”

Rachel still appears skeptical, but lets the matter drop as she follows Camilla out of the elevator. The group exits the elevator and starts walking the hallway.

Noelle looks around the hotel with an appraising eye. "This place does look pretty nice. I'll admit it.”

Camilla continues leading the way down the hallway, her steps light and her braided hair swaying with each stride. "Told you guys, this place is top-notch. Wait till you see our room!”

After a few more moments walking through the hallway, Camilla reaches a door with a brass number plate reading '229' and uses the key provided by the receptionist to unlock it. The group enters the suite and looks around, their eyes widening at the luxurious surroundings.

The suite is indeed extravagant, fitted with plush furniture, intricate island-themed decor, and an incredible view of the city through the large windows. There are multiple rooms and areas, including a living room, kitchen, multiple bedrooms, and a large balcony. The smell of fresh flowers wafts through the air, creating an atmosphere of both elegance and comfort.

Camilla laughs, clearly pleased with herself. "What do you think? Pretty sweet, huh?”

Despite Rachel's earlier skepticism, even she is impressed. "Alright, I admit it, this place is kinda cool."

Noelle looks admiringly at the view from the windows. "Wow. This is better than any hotel I've ever stayed in before.”

Camilla grins, satisfied with their reactions. "I knew you'd all like it! Let's get settled in and then we can go explore the city, sound like a plan?”

“Yeah,” Noelle agreed. “We need to look for someone. Do you know someone by the name of Shelly?”

“Ooh, you mean the one who oversees the dam?”

“Yes. She needs our help to stop the attack of the dark creatures on it, or else the dam will break and destroy everything.”

Camilla gasped, her smile disappearing and her eyes wide. "Wait... The dam might break? We have to do something, then!"

"Let's get going, then. The sooner we get to Shelly, the better,” Noelle said, her mood shifting to a more serious one.

Camilla nodded. "You're right. We don't have a moment to lose."

The group quickly left the hotel, determined to find Shelly as soon as possible.